Jordan Love is now the man.
With the Aaron Rodgers trade and the NFL draft in their rearview mirror, the Packers focused their attention on securing Love for the future with a one-year contract extension just before Tuesday’s deadline for exercising his fifth-year option.
According to NFL Network and ESPN, the deal replaces his rookie contract and pays Love up to $22.5 million, including $13.5 million guaranteed.
Love will now have the 2023 and 2024 seasons to prove himself as a starter and land a more lucrative contract in the future if successful.
Green Bay’s top draft pick in the 2020 draft has played sparingly in his young career, but has made tremendous progress as Rodgers’ understudy—especially last year. From grasping the offense to command in the huddle, Love has impressed head coach Matt LaFleur, general manager Brian Gutekunst, and his teammates with his poise, attitude, and play.
La Fleur was excited to see continued development from last season as Love takes control of his offense with some new weapons drafted this weekend at the tight end and wide receiver positions.
“The moment was not too big for him,” LaFleur said of his one start in 2022. “You could see that. He was super poised and that, quite frankly, gave us the confidence that we needed to see from him.
“I think he’s still got a ton of room for growth. He’s going to continue to evolve, but I think you’re right, it is hard to lead when you’re not THE guy. And he knows he’s THE guy now. So I think it just instills confidence in him and I think his teammates, he’s first of all earned the respect by his actions, the way he works from all his teammates, I would say. I’m excited for him. It’s going to be a process but one that I know that he can handle.”
The standards will not change in Green Bay.
“Every year in this league, there’s going to be transition, there’s going to be turnover,” La Fleur said. “Certainly I think we’re in a position right now where there’s been more than there’s been in quite some time here. So I think the challenge is how do you reinvent yourself each and every year knowing that the standards and expectations don’t change. We’re expected to win. T hat’s what this business is all about and certainly when you have a first-year starter at the QB position, we need everybody from coaches to every player on our roster to perform and produce at a high level and play complete team football.
“The one thing I’ll tell you is just being around him for now going into Year 4, he’s learned a lot, and he’s seen a lot, and obviously learning when you’re behind one of the greatest to ever do it, I think Jordan has done an outstanding job just kind of picking his brain and learning from Aaron, but like I said, it’s going to be a process because it’s not just about that position.”
